When it comes to audio noise reduction plugins, two major tools are at the top of the industry: Waves Clarity and iZotope RX. These tools promise pristine sound quality and advanced noise reduction features. The question is, which one is the best for your needs? In this blog post, let’s find out the best tool to sound better by comparing the two based on their complexity, sound quality, speed, pricing, and how effectively they help your audio sound better.
Complexity Comparison
Waves Clarity is designed with simplicity in mind. The user interface is clean and intuitive, making it easy for both beginners and experts to use the platform. With a single dial and minimal controls, it provides a streamlined workflow without the need for extensive tweaking.
On the other hand, iZotope RX offers a more complex set of features with a steeper learning curve. It includes a variety of modules such as De-noise and De-click, which have their specific usage. With that, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the different modules to learn which you should use for a certain project.
Overall, when it comes to complexity, Waves Clarity is better. It’s simple and easy to use. In contrast, iZotope RX, although it is powerful, requires more time and expertise to master.
Sound Quality Test
Using the right tools can greatly impact how your audio sounds better in various projects.
Both Waves Clarity and iZotope RX can sound better when you understand how to maximize their potential.
For the sound quality test, I used both tools to make a sample audio with background noise sound better. To get the optimum result, I applied the best and maximum settings from both software. And to my ear, I didn’t hear much of a difference with the results. So with this criterion, I would say Waves Clarity and iZotope RX are a tie.
Hence, ensuring your audio sounds better can enhance the overall quality of your work.
Speed Test
When it comes to speed test, I find Waves Clarity faster than iZotope RX. The latter takes a little bit of time to render audio projects. In addition, it takes 1-5 seconds to playback the sample audio after applying noise reduction.
On the other hand, you can instantly listen to the edited audio after making some adjustments using Waves Clarity. Moreover, there’s almost no latency in rendering projects.
Overall, the difference in speed between the two is not that huge. However, the real-time preview you get when editing with Waves Clarity can make your editing faster.
Cost Breakdown
The final criterion for comparing the two audio plugins is the pricing. The cost of using either plugin is worth considering especially when you are on a budget.
Waves Clarity is more budget-friendly, especially because Waves runs frequent sales and discounts. It is available as a one-time purchase or a subscription, giving you options for your needs. As of this writing, the Clarity VX plugin can be purchased for $34.99.
🎸 Get ClarityVx here: https://waves.alzt.net/rQ9BAQ
🎧️ Explore Waves subscription options here: https://waves.alzt.net/LXjZRM
In conclusion, both options are viable depending on your needs and how you aim to make your audio sound better.
iZotope RX can be more expensive depending on the plugin version. The basic version (RX Elements) is relatively affordable, but the professional versions (RX Standard and RX Advanced) can be quite costly. As of February 2025, iZotope RX’s pricing starts at $59.40.
Ultimately, the right choice will have a significant effect on how your projects sound better.
🔌 iZotope RX 11 Elements: https://www.izotope.com/en/shop/rx-elements/
🎚️ iZotope RX 11 Standard: https://www.izotope.com/en/shop/rx-standard/
Overall, if you want an affordable, simple, and easy-to-use plugin, Waves Clarity is perfect. However, if your projects require top-tier audio repair capabilities, consider getting iZotope RX. It can be quite pricey but the investment is often justified.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, both Waves Clarity and iZotope RX are excellent plugins for making your projects sound better. Your choice depends on your workflow, budget, and the level of control you need. No matter which tool you choose, both can help you achieve cleaner, clearer, and better-sounding audio!
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Further Reading:
- Remove ANY Background Noise from Your Audio File Using Adobe Audition
- How to Remove Background Noise in Audacity | Quick Fix!
- How To Master Noise Reduction Inside DaVinci Resolve For Free
- The Ultimate Noise Removal Tool – CrumplePop Plugin Review
- Noise Reduction – How to Get Rid of Static Noise in Audacity
